Bagshaw: Killing tunnel would bring city ‘to its knees’

Failing to build the tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct would bring Seattle’s economy “to its knees,” City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw said Monday as officials reviewed an agreement between Seattle and the state to build the controversial, $4.2 billion replacement for the downtown state highway.

The Council examined a measure it will likely approve next month. It would enter Seattle into a “legally binding” agreement with the state of Washington to begin work on the 1.7-mile tunnel. However the Council says it would have to reapprove the tunnel deal, likely this summer, after the final environmental impact statement released to allow the real work to begin.

The legislation would ensure that the city’s Department of Transportation, Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light were “active partners” on the project. The state recently signed a contract with a private company to build the tunnel, which would be the nation’s largest deep-bored tunnel. Seattle would be responsible for about $900 million in projects – including the relocation of utilities and replacing the Elliott Bay seawall. Click here for more.